Group tables CPC request

Comment

By Marc Edwards

Pontiac Daily Leader - Pontiac, IL

By Marc Edwards

Posted Jul. 23, 2013 at 12:00 PM

By Marc Edwards
Posted Jul. 23, 2013 at 12:00 PM

Pontiac, Ill.

The Pontiac Planning Commission tabled a request by the Caring Pregnancy Center for a proposed special use permit for a house at 621 S. Vermillion St. The house, which was donated by the Bank of Pontiac to the organization, is earmarked for use as a transitional home for pregnant young women.

The meeting, which was held in the City Hall chambers Monday afternoon, was attended by neighbors from the area of the proposed home. The neighbors had concerns about what kind of women would occupy the house.

Darleta Graham, executive director of Caring Pregnancy Center, said, "The young women would go through a thorough screening process to see which would be viable candidates as to which ones would be the first to occupy the home." Graham told the audience that at first, two or three women would be allowed to live in the home. She said there would be house parents that would supervise the home 24/7. Also a director would be named to oversee the house parents on a regular basis.

Other concerns raised by the group were how many people would occupy the two-story house. Graham said with other homes in Ottawa and Peoria, "The mothers could have one child, up to the age of 2, stay with them and then the impending birth of the other child.”

One neighbor brought up a parking issue as to where clients and employees would park. Street parking was brought up as to using Moulton Street, but not the alley as to give access to residents who need the alley to have access to their garages.

Concerns ranged from use of drugs and alcohol to boyfriends coming to the home. Graham said there is a "zero tolerance" for alcohol and drugs and no boyfriends would be allowed in unless supervised.

Josh Moore, a resident near the site, wondered if women from outside the county would use the home. Graham told those in attendance that most, if not all, would be from the Pontiac area.

Most of those in attendance were opposed to the proposed use of the home. After more than an hour meeting, commission member Bill Alvey made a motion to table the request until more information, including floor plans, could be made available. The motion to table the action was approved on a 5-0 vote and will be brought up again at the commission's next meeting on Aug. 12 at 4:30 p.m.

The commission approved a request by the Livingston Alternative School to move from its present location at the old driver's license facility, because the landlord had some other uses for the building. The new location for the school would be across the street at the vacant Livingston County Public Aid office. The commission will send along its recommendation to the full City Council at it's next meeting on Aug. 5.